Historic Scotland holds first ever residential summer school in building conservation

15 September 2010

HISTORIC SCOTLAND HOLDS FIRST EVER RESIDENTIAL SUMMER SCHOOL IN BUILDING CONSERVATION

Historic Scotland has held its first ever residential summer school in building conservation.

The week long course saw undergraduates from across Scotland studying disciplines such as architecture, planning, building surveying and structural engineering come together at Historic Scotland’s Stirling based workshop.

The summer school, which is a first for the sector in Scotland, is designed to help meet the skills gap, by providing undergraduate students from a variety of building professions who may never formally train in traditional building skills, with an introduction to the field.

Throughout the week, the students took part in sessions in traditional materials such as stone, slate, bronze and iron as well addressing key current issues such as energy efficiency in traditional buildings. The students also had the opportunity to observe and partake in live projects including the current lime washing of the Great Hall at Stirling Castle – as well as attending practical sessions in masonry pointing, lead work roofing and stone carving.

Ali Davey, Head of Technical Outreach and Education said;

“Whilst there are many excellent courses running throughout Scotland in the building sector, we felt that there was an opportunity to reach out to those who enter the field with little experience of traditional buildings.

“This course is designed to help the students to learn from some of the leading specialists in the country, and to extend their skills base and employability.

“It is also intended to give them the opportunity to hear about some of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector – and hopefully develop a passion for traditional buildings that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.”

Participants from each of the attending universities were awarded a Historic Scotland Summer School 2010 Award certificate on completion of the course.

David Mitchell, Director of Historic Scotland’s Conservation Group said;

“It is important that we get the opportunity to work with the next generation of building professionals and events such as these are an important platform to do so.

“Ultimately we want to give undergraduates the opportunity to learn about Scotland’s rich traditional building stock in an engaging, informative way.

“Skills are the lifeblood of our industry and events like these provide a great opportunity to demonstrate firsthand the fantastic work that it going on to care and protect our built heritage.”

EndsSeptember 2010

Notes for editors

1.Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government charged with safeguarding the nation’s historic environment. The agency is fully accountable to Scottish Ministers and through them to the Scottish Parliament. For more information visit www.historic-scotland.gov.uk